Seat Ibiza 1.9tdi to Mazda MX5 1.6/1.8
Discussion
Hi folks,
first time post but been reading the boards for some time now. I need some help,advice guidance and here seems to be the best place ( flattery etc etc etc ) .
I've tried various searches on the net without joy for the following question/scenario.
I'm considering buying a Mazda MX5 2002, FSH 60K on the clock and its a 1.6 and the car I currently have is a 2003 Seat Ibiza 1.9tdi 130 and I cant seem to find any consistent comparisions re running costs.
The Ibiza is and has been an excellent workhorse and had it not been for the fact my wife has just changed her car we would keep it ( and she could kill it like all the others ...)Seat owes me nothing and apart from feeling like a change there is no reason to move it on.
But..
Whats troubling me is the potential hike in running costs that I cant seem to pin down. I tend to do a mixed bag of driving urban,traffic jams, motorway etc and journeys ranging from a basic 20 mile commute to a 150 stop start journey around the north west ( these however are covered by mileage expenses of 40p pm).
full tank costs about 50 quid now, think i get anywhere between 40 + 50mpg.
Am I likely to see my wallet taking a pasting making the switch from a 1.9tdi diesel to a 1.6 lighweight petrol car is the conundrum? The Mazda is also available as a 1.8 but I cant see that being any more economical!
Boiled it down to an MX from a selection including 1.8 MR2, 1.8 MG TF and of course the Mazda all of them around 2002 models.
Cash pit or minor issue?
sorry if this is a mr thicky from thicky land post, many years ago I bought a Nissan ZX without foresight and it nearly bankrupted me!
first time post but been reading the boards for some time now. I need some help,advice guidance and here seems to be the best place ( flattery etc etc etc ) .
I've tried various searches on the net without joy for the following question/scenario.
I'm considering buying a Mazda MX5 2002, FSH 60K on the clock and its a 1.6 and the car I currently have is a 2003 Seat Ibiza 1.9tdi 130 and I cant seem to find any consistent comparisions re running costs.
The Ibiza is and has been an excellent workhorse and had it not been for the fact my wife has just changed her car we would keep it ( and she could kill it like all the others ...)Seat owes me nothing and apart from feeling like a change there is no reason to move it on.
But..
Whats troubling me is the potential hike in running costs that I cant seem to pin down. I tend to do a mixed bag of driving urban,traffic jams, motorway etc and journeys ranging from a basic 20 mile commute to a 150 stop start journey around the north west ( these however are covered by mileage expenses of 40p pm).
full tank costs about 50 quid now, think i get anywhere between 40 + 50mpg.
Am I likely to see my wallet taking a pasting making the switch from a 1.9tdi diesel to a 1.6 lighweight petrol car is the conundrum? The Mazda is also available as a 1.8 but I cant see that being any more economical!
Boiled it down to an MX from a selection including 1.8 MR2, 1.8 MG TF and of course the Mazda all of them around 2002 models.
Cash pit or minor issue?
sorry if this is a mr thicky from thicky land post, many years ago I bought a Nissan ZX without foresight and it nearly bankrupted me!
It will drink more fuel but an MX-5 could never be called a money pit. I averaged around 27mpg in a 2004 1.8, and around 30-36 on the motorway. It is quite short geared so you're doing about 4,000 rpm at 80, so compared to a 1.9 tdi that's where you'll feel a difference, but over a year - is it really going to make that much of a difference?
If I had the space I'd have another MX-5 in a flash.
If I had the space I'd have another MX-5 in a flash.
I'm averaging about 29mpg in my 1.6 mkII MX5. It's certainly not a money pit, and I'm quite enthusiastic with it. Definitely not a money pit, although it could cost you a little more. You'll smile every time you take it out and you'll treasure owning one. Buy one and enjoy it, you only live once!
The difference in mpg is absolutely negligible compared to the other running costs. The mx-5 shouldn't depreciate much in a couple of years if buying in the winter, and shouldn't have too many hidden big bills. Insurance will be more.
All that said, those are quite big distances. Even the most special cars get very mundane after a few thousand miles, and you might start cursing the mx5 after a couple of winter months.
All that said, those are quite big distances. Even the most special cars get very mundane after a few thousand miles, and you might start cursing the mx5 after a couple of winter months.
We run an 02 Sport. About 35 mpg with me at the helm, lower with Mrs BFB. Servicing cheap as chips at a local indy. Make sure the belt was done at 54K service, btw (although even this isn't big money).
Check for rust.
Check again for rust. Ask when the drains were last cleared. Walk away if a puzzled look ensues.
Give it a final check for rust (look on Nutz & OC Forums for more info).
Now, about rust, if the rear of the sills/leading edge of the rear arches does go, even then they aren't expensive to fix.
Buy a good one and depreciation is negligible.
Great fun motoring - enjoy!
Check for rust.
Check again for rust. Ask when the drains were last cleared. Walk away if a puzzled look ensues.
Give it a final check for rust (look on Nutz & OC Forums for more info).
Now, about rust, if the rear of the sills/leading edge of the rear arches does go, even then they aren't expensive to fix.
Buy a good one and depreciation is negligible.
Great fun motoring - enjoy!
Have run both cars for a year or so each; '03 Ibiza PD130 current steed due to 90 Mway miles/day, girlfriend put 25k miles on a 2003 1.6 MX5 in a year or so, 5k of which or so were mine.
MX5 far and away more fun to own/drive/live with; her's was a boggo spec (chassis wise) 1.6 and it never failed to surprise me by just how much fun it was. 30mpg is a realistic mixed driving average compared to low 50s mpg average by me in the Ibiza. MX5 will cost slightly more in tax and insurance, parts in my experience marginally cheaper for the Mazda, tires significantly cheaper for the Mazda (assuming it's running on 15's in comparison to the 16s that are on your Ibiza). Be aware that the 1.6 especially is not a quick car, the Ibiza will feel noteably brisker and will significantly outrun it in gear once it's rolling. Also, while I'm far from concerned by such things (owned DC2 Integra as a daily for a year) be aware that the Ibiza is a nicer/smoother/quieter place to be on a motorway.
As stated by previous poster when viewing MX5s RUST RUST RUST must be your mantra.
MX5 far and away more fun to own/drive/live with; her's was a boggo spec (chassis wise) 1.6 and it never failed to surprise me by just how much fun it was. 30mpg is a realistic mixed driving average compared to low 50s mpg average by me in the Ibiza. MX5 will cost slightly more in tax and insurance, parts in my experience marginally cheaper for the Mazda, tires significantly cheaper for the Mazda (assuming it's running on 15's in comparison to the 16s that are on your Ibiza). Be aware that the 1.6 especially is not a quick car, the Ibiza will feel noteably brisker and will significantly outrun it in gear once it's rolling. Also, while I'm far from concerned by such things (owned DC2 Integra as a daily for a year) be aware that the Ibiza is a nicer/smoother/quieter place to be on a motorway.
As stated by previous poster when viewing MX5s RUST RUST RUST must be your mantra.
Thanks for the info folks, It would be so much easier if I could persuade my wife to take my Seat on instead of her Smart Passion...( here's hoping it fails its MOT spectacularly).
Finding it really hard to part with a faultless car that looks nice,runs nice but at the end of the day I cant remember the last time the back seats carried passengers and you know what they say about a change. I just know which ever way I go I will feel rubbish about it in some form!
Hence the ?s re running costs, if there is little in it ..then hey, might as well buy it!
Finding it really hard to part with a faultless car that looks nice,runs nice but at the end of the day I cant remember the last time the back seats carried passengers and you know what they say about a change. I just know which ever way I go I will feel rubbish about it in some form!
Hence the ?s re running costs, if there is little in it ..then hey, might as well buy it!
baddogpablo said:
Thanks for the info folks, It would be so much easier if I could persuade my wife to take my Seat on instead of her Smart Passion...( here's hoping it fails its MOT spectacularly).
Finding it really hard to part with a faultless car that looks nice,runs nice but at the end of the day I cant remember the last time the back seats carried passengers and you know what they say about a change. I just know which ever way I go I will feel rubbish about it in some form!
Hence the ?s re running costs, if there is little in it ..then hey, might as well buy it!
If you wanted a specific number (based partly on calculation and partly on gut instinct) I'd estimate for the average driver over a 12k mile year that the MX5 would cost around £1400 more to run than the Ibiza (about £900 of that is fuel).Finding it really hard to part with a faultless car that looks nice,runs nice but at the end of the day I cant remember the last time the back seats carried passengers and you know what they say about a change. I just know which ever way I go I will feel rubbish about it in some form!
Hence the ?s re running costs, if there is little in it ..then hey, might as well buy it!
Hi H4Muf
apologies as I only saw the " email me" bit on my phone hence reply, now had time to sit down and get back to you and the posts.
I think after a lot of deliberation ( and the fact I drove to Southampton and back on a tank and a bit ) hs hammered home that the Ibiza needs to be kept. That said I am still looking to buy the Mazda and move on the Smart car.
I was a bit concerned with the projected jump in cost being up to £1400 and if thats the case it make the point above a no brainer. I might be looking to buy a sporty car but I've not got sports star wages to not think about fuel.
Never thought buying a car would be so nervy, I appreciate the info re the 1.6/1.8 and will try to take that ( and the rust issue ) into account. The car that I'm looking at is a 1.6 and is very very nice ( as well as a damn good price). I will keep you updated.
Any info gladly welcomed and no advice shunned.
apologies as I only saw the " email me" bit on my phone hence reply, now had time to sit down and get back to you and the posts.
I think after a lot of deliberation ( and the fact I drove to Southampton and back on a tank and a bit ) hs hammered home that the Ibiza needs to be kept. That said I am still looking to buy the Mazda and move on the Smart car.
I was a bit concerned with the projected jump in cost being up to £1400 and if thats the case it make the point above a no brainer. I might be looking to buy a sporty car but I've not got sports star wages to not think about fuel.
Never thought buying a car would be so nervy, I appreciate the info re the 1.6/1.8 and will try to take that ( and the rust issue ) into account. The car that I'm looking at is a 1.6 and is very very nice ( as well as a damn good price). I will keep you updated.
Any info gladly welcomed and no advice shunned.
It's not going to get anywhere near the MPG given by a diesel engine, that's pretty obvious really; hence the hike in fuel usage will be noticeable - it's not exactly a surprising outcome.
The '5 has lots of things going for it and is a great car, but dropping at least 15MPG, at best, will make a noticeable difference to your fuel bill and this seems to be an issue for you.
The '5 has lots of things going for it and is a great car, but dropping at least 15MPG, at best, will make a noticeable difference to your fuel bill and this seems to be an issue for you.
Edited by B3njamin on Monday 7th March 17:03
Thanks for all the input, I've decided that an MX5 is going to be bought and the Seat put in summer hibernation at a work mates.
With the risk of being a thread hog,but saving starting another ..
I've boiled it down to 2 that are in my local area,both same age ( 2002) but one is a 1.6i with 60k on the clock and the other is a 1.8 with 89k on the clock. Both clean and tidy,2 owners and FSH, recently serviced and mot'd.
I understand from previous info the 1.8 is the way to go but is the trade off in the mileage something I should be concerned about as it seems high in comparision to others?
With the risk of being a thread hog,but saving starting another ..
I've boiled it down to 2 that are in my local area,both same age ( 2002) but one is a 1.6i with 60k on the clock and the other is a 1.8 with 89k on the clock. Both clean and tidy,2 owners and FSH, recently serviced and mot'd.
I understand from previous info the 1.8 is the way to go but is the trade off in the mileage something I should be concerned about as it seems high in comparision to others?
baddogpablo said:
Thanks for all the input, I've decided that an MX5 is going to be bought and the Seat put in summer hibernation at a work mates.
With the risk of being a thread hog,but saving starting another ..
I've boiled it down to 2 that are in my local area,both same age ( 2002) but one is a 1.6i with 60k on the clock and the other is a 1.8 with 89k on the clock. Both clean and tidy,2 owners and FSH, recently serviced and mot'd.
I understand from previous info the 1.8 is the way to go but is the trade off in the mileage something I should be concerned about as it seems high in comparision to others?
Never buy on mileage in my opinion.With the risk of being a thread hog,but saving starting another ..
I've boiled it down to 2 that are in my local area,both same age ( 2002) but one is a 1.6i with 60k on the clock and the other is a 1.8 with 89k on the clock. Both clean and tidy,2 owners and FSH, recently serviced and mot'd.
I understand from previous info the 1.8 is the way to go but is the trade off in the mileage something I should be concerned about as it seems high in comparision to others?
Buy on condition and how well it's been looked after.
Is either of them a special edition by any chance?
)Avoid buying the lowly 90bhp base model MX5 - No MX5 is quick by any means, but the pauper spec engine is horrendous. I think you'll find your Seat will feel quicker, in reality many TD's are quicker even the old ones!! The MX5's are fun & they will struggle to do 30mpg tbh.
I've owned many over the years & getting smoked by someone in TD was par for the course, but you know when you get to the twisties the MX5 is bags of fun.
I've owned many over the years & getting smoked by someone in TD was par for the course, but you know when you get to the twisties the MX5 is bags of fun.
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